Egypt discusses cooperation with UN to achieve sustainable development goals as part of Decent Life initiative

CAIRO - 11 October 2021: Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawi said Monday his ministry looks forward to promoting relations with the United Nations and its affiliate organizations in Egypt to achieve the goals of sustainable development adopted by the Egyptian government.

Shaarawi's statements came during a meeting with UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova to discuss future cooperation between the two sides.

The minister hailed historical relations binding Egypt and the United Nations during the past years and reviewed with the UN official the most important features of a national project to develop Egyptian villages as part of Decent Life presidential initiative.

Minister Shaarawi hailed the support extended by the United Nations and its organizations to programs and initiatives being carried out in Egypt, as well as the UN support to the convocation of "the International Cities Day” in Luxor on October 30 and 31 under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

For her part, the UN official said she looks forward to promoting relations with the Egyptian government hailing the successes achieved during the past years and praised Egypt's presidential initiatives to improve the lives of Egyptians in many domains topped by services, education, health and jobs. 

The total number of villages targeted by the ‘Decent Life’ initiative is 4,600 lying across 20 governorates. Half of those are located in Upper Egypt, including Fayoum, Beni Suef, Menya, Sohag, Asyut, Luxor and Aswan. The rest are located in Delta, having Qalyoubeya, Damietta, Beheira, Menoufeya, Gharbia, and Sharqia.

The goals of the initiatives are as follows:

Rehabilitating houses, building ceilings for houses that lack them, and building residential communities in villages in need.Connecting the houses to water supply, wastewater, natural gas, and electricity networks.Introducing infrastructure necessary for micro-enterprises.Providing medical services, building hospitals and healthcare units, and equipping them with the necessary devices and medical staff.Operating medical caravans, and offering prosthetics.Improving the quality of schools, and nurseries, and establishing literacy classrooms.Expanding economic empowerment, vocational training, and employment through micro, small, and medium enterprises.Establishing industrial, and craft complexes.Bolstering food supply chains, and providing subsidized food.